I got a bit carried away with the videos, compiling 26 great videos captured live at SXSW. Not surprisingly, we kick things off with the performance that introduced me to Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven. From there, a three-fer from Alejandro Escovedo’s special Sunday night gig at the legendary Continental Club. We’ve got […]
Brian Wright’s on Fire
Now, I’ll be honest: I still haven’t made my way completely through Brian Wright’s new Sugar Hill album, House on Fire. It’ll be released next week, but what I’ve heard thus far, I really like. See for yourself with these two videos. One shows the softer acoustic side, while the one below it displays a […]
Natalia Zukerman – Gas Station Roses
I really struggled to put into words why I like the latest release from Natalia Zukerman, Gas Station Roses. When I would write down notes on the songs they ended up best summarized by thoughts like “pleasant”, or “comfortable”. But when you put those in a review, it comes off as damning something with faint […]
The Civil Wars – Barton Hallow
The benefits of landing a tune on a prime-time drama can obviously be plentiful, and make no mistake, The Civil Wars, a duo out of Nashville have certainly been reaping those riches in the form of monumental buzz and sold out club shows all over the country. Of course, the side of that which isnt […]
Readers’ Pick: The Wailin’ Jennys, “Bright Morning Starsâ€
READERS PICK: FEBRUARY 2011 Twangville readers recently picked The Wailin’ Jennys Bright Morning Stars as their favorite album of February 2011. Jazz vocalist Heather Masse joins Ruth Moody and Nicky Meht as the third Jenny in their first studio album in 5 years. Each contributed 4 songs each for a total of 12 original songs […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2011, a Video Companion
We’ll book-end this edition with two clips from the Low Anthem. “Boeing 737,” the opener, features clips of the band recording in the abandoned pasta sauce factory while “Apothecary Love,” the closer, was recorded live in Grand Central Station. In-between you get Lucinda William’s acoustic take on “Buttercup,” the David Wax Museum performing “The Least […]
Mayer’s Playlist from February 2011
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Blessed, by Lucinda Williams Ah, Lucinda, you lost me a bit with your last couple of releases. Not that I can hold it against you. Car Wheels and some of the earlier works set the bar so high that it would be hard to imagine being able to sustain that momentum. […]
Justin Townes Earle – Live At the Rio Theater
A couple of months ago, the collective conscience here at Twangville voted Justin Townes Earle’s latest record our album of the year. Â On a chilly night in Santa Cruz, Earle stopped through on a west coast swing of appearances to play at the Rio Theater. Â Dressed in a dark suit and skinny tie, with well […]
Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO
Producing some stellar, if not downright seminal, works can be a real pain for an artist. Ask Lucinda Williams what’s it been like to answer questions about why each of her albums can’t be Car Wheels on a Gravel Road? Ryan Adams has tried for years to overcome the “Where’s the next Heartbreaker?” stigma. Classic […]
Susan James – Highways, Ghosts, Hearts and Home
Susan James has gained a lot of well known fans over the last few years. Bob Weir and Rob Wassrerman heard her, and asked her to open for Ratdog. She has also opened for for Son Volt, Rufus Wainright, Richard Thompson and Lindsey Buckingham among others. She has been playing guitar since she was eight. […]